Alfred is forecast to make landfall near Brisbane, the capital of Queensland and Australia’s third largest city.

Millions of residents along Australia’s eastern coast are bracing for the arrival of a very slow-moving storm, the strongest tropical cyclone to threaten the region in more than 50 years. Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall late Friday or early Saturday as a Category 1 cyclone,

Australia braced for a rare east coast tropical cyclone that is swirling towards Brisbane, its third-most populous city, with authorities urging residents in flood-prone suburbs to evacuate soon.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is forecast to cross the coast between the Queensland state capital Brisbane and the tourist city of Gold Coast to the south late Thursday or early Friday.

Thousands of residents in Australia's east were ordered to evacuate ahead of Tropical Cyclone Alfred's landfall as the storm brought heavy rains, huge waves and strong winds that cut off power, eroded beaches and closed airports.

But while authorities have been warning residents to stay indoors as Cyclone Alfred approaches, die-hard surfers have been throwing caution to the increasing wind. "This is what we look forward to," said Jeff Weatherall as he waited for a jet ski to pick him up from Kirra beach and carry him into the big waves.

Rain was pouring down in Brisbane, Queensland, as Tropical Cyclone Alfred neared the Australian coast. More Videos. Trump warns Hamas as US holds unprecedented talks for Gaza host

From Byron Bay to Brisbane and beyond, the effects of Tropical Cyclone Alfred are being felt on Friday morning.